Story and Art

It’s tempting to think of painting and narrative as two entirely different methods of describing reality – one using words, one using static images to convey meaning. But are they really that different? Historically, the function of much art was to tell mainly religious stories to an illiterate audience, which suggests a lasting relationship. But how does that apply to Cubism or Abstract Expressionism? Is narrative important to all art?

Author of Into the Woods, and presenter of BBC Radio’s Opening Lines, story specialist John Yorke presents an introduction to the principals of narrative – how it works, and what makes some stories successful – then explores how integral narrative is to the creation, and interpretation of visual art.

Tickets: £15.00